STOREY COUNTY, NEVADA – In lockstep with Storey County, CC Communications, and Rural Innovation Strategies, Inc. (RISI), Google has provided support for high-speed fiber-to-the-home (FTTH) broadband internet access to every Virginia City resident and business.
This initiative, led with strategic guidance from RISI, aims to transform digital access and boost economic and technological development in the region by bringing broadband access along a 12-plus mile route to 657 locations including Virginia City, Gold Hill, and all establishments adjacent to Nevada State Route 342 between State Route 50 and Virginia City.
“Google is incredibly appreciative of the collaboration and involvement Storey County, CC Communications, and Rural Innovation Strategies have all had in bringing high-speed internet to every corner of Virginia City,” said Kate Franko, Google’s Regional Head of Data Center Public Affairs. “This effort is fundamental to our mission of nurturing more connected and innovative communities across the nation.”
“I am immensely proud to have played a part in bringing broadband fiber internet to Virginia City in Storey County, Nevada”, said Storey County County Commissioner, Jay Carmona. “This achievement, made possible with the support of Google, Rural Innovation Strategies Inc., CC Communications, and Storey County, marks a significant step forward in connecting our community and fostering growth and innovation.”
“As the first company to deploy FTTH and gig connections to Rural Nevada, it is only fitting that CC Communications partners with Storey County to bring futureproof network infrastructure to these historic rural communities. The standard deployment will allow customers to receive up to 1Gbps, with 2.5 Gbps services available upon request,” added CC Communications’ CEO, Mark Feest.
Permitting is underway now, with construction expected to begin this summer. Customers will be brought online as locations are passed and the project is anticipated to be complete by November 2025. Churchill County Communications will also provide complimentary broadband service to government buildings within Virginia City and Gold Hill.
“RISI is thrilled to have played a role in expanding high-speed fiber internet to Virginia City,” said Alex Kelley, Director of Broadband Consulting at Rural Innovation Strategies, Inc. “This project epitomizes why we do this work; the broadband built in Virginia City is going to serve everyone, is locally owned and operated, and will unlock new quality of life and economic growth opportunities for residents and businesses alike.”
This venture is a milestone in Google’s ongoing mission to deliver cutting-edge internet service solutions to communities across the nation. For more information about Google in Nevada, please visit https://www.google.com/about/datacenters/.
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About Google in Nevada:
Google has called Nevada home since 2019, with data centers in Henderson and Storey County. The company has partnered with trusted community institutions across the state to bring digital skills training, grant funding, and other resources to more Nevadans. In Nevada, Grow with Google has partnered with more than 60 organizations to train more than 111,000 Nevadans in digital skills, including public libraries, chambers of commerce, community colleges, and more. Google.org has awarded over $1 million in grants to nonprofits and organizations based in Nevada. Since 2014, Google’s employees based in Nevada–including company matching contributions–have donated over $770,000 in charitable giving to nonprofits. Learn more about Google in Nevada at: g.co/economicimpact/nevada.
About Storey County:
About Storey County: Storey County earned its place on the map in 1859 when miners discovered the largest deposit ever found of gold and silver in Virginia City. This discovery ultimately heralded Storey County’s Virginia City/Gold Hill as “The Richest Place on Earth.” Long after the gold and silver rush became a memory, Storey County was left with a thriving tourism market that continues to attract over 1.6 million visitors annually. Now, Storey County has built a reputation on always doing things big—one of the biggest gold and silver discoveries in history and now, home to the United State’s largest industrial park, the Tahoe-Reno Industrial Center (TRI Center). Today, Storey County’s rich, living legacy unites with high-tech modernization that’s enjoyed by residents, businesses and visitors alike. This county offers a variety of small-town communities that are merely minutes away from large metropolitan areas—the best of both worlds.
About Churchill County Communications:
CC Communications has been providing communications services in rural Nevada for over 135 years. Beginning in 1889 as a telegraph operator, adding telephone in the 1890’s, and DSL in the 1990’s. CC Communications first deployed FTTH in the early 2000’s, and provides fiber Internet primarily in Churchill County, the City of Elko, and Spring Creek. In addition to the upcoming Storey County project, CC Communications continues its FTTH build in Elko and Spring Creek, as well as current projects in Yerington and Schurz. Fiber to the Premise deployment is supported by CC Communications’ middle mile and long haul fiber paths from Reno to Las Vegas as well as its fiber ring serving Fallon, Reno, Carson City and TRIC. CC Communications’ robust Nevada fiber network provides customers with redundant and reliable network connections. Learn more at www.cccomm.net.
About Rural Innovation Strategies, Inc.:
Rural Innovation Strategies, Inc. (RISI), is a mission-driven nonprofit consulting firm that provides broadband technical assistance and supports state and national efforts to expand and improve broadband infrastructure. RISI has created broadband assessments, long- term strategies, feasibility studies, business plans, and digital equity studies for diverse communities across the country. Our broadband client and project list includes work in 23 states for public sector jurisdictions, municipal ISPs, nonprofit ISPs, middle-mile providers, and electric and phone cooperatives. Learn more at https://ruralinnovationstrategies.com/.
